The 2013 edition packed a double serving of Cajun spice with University of Louisiana Lafayette taking on Tulane University.

The Ragin' Cajuns have made three back to back trips to the NOLA Bowl.

Jason Richard and his son could not miss it. "I don't now if they'll get invited again. Three times in a row you've been here, even if you have a winning tradition, you'd think the bowl would want to move teams around, so it's close to home, you got to come see it."

It it the Green Wave's first bowl appearance since the 2002 Hawaii Bowl.

The Medina family showed up in large numbers to root on No. 46, Sergio Medina. Raul Medina said, "He's having a good time playing linebacker and then we come to the bowl game, so it's been an extraordinary, fantastic, fun year."

This was also a farewell game for Tulane, which has called the Superdome home since 1975. The university's new on-campus stadium is scheduled to open for the 2014 football season.

"Oh, I'm so excited because I grew up a little at the Tulane stadium, so to now see them going back to have their own stadium, it's really awesome," said Lynn Garrett.

The matchup made for the largest crowds in the bowl game's 13-year history. Close to 60,000 tickets were sold.

Jay Cicero, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation president, said, "It has made this game the most exciting New Orleans Bowl we've every had and I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation 25th anniversary."

GNOSF called this year's game another victory toward making the city a premiere sports tourism destination.

In its 25-year run the foundation has brought in numerous events, from Super Bowls to men's and women's NCAA Final Fours.

"To put on those events in the past 25 years, it's taken about $65 million in fund raising and we've successfully done that," Cicero said. "The return on that investment has been over $2 billion (in) economic impact for the state and the city."

The expected income from the annual New Orleans Bowl has reached a about $20 million. It is money that helps create and keep jobs in the hospitality industry and build the city's visibility nationally, which Cicero said has immeasurable financial benefits.

The foundation is hoping to have the winning bids to host the 2018 Super Bowl and another NCAA Final Four.